These documents relate to the proposed 1896 sale of a legal practice by Henry Parrington, a solicitor from Warrnambool, to Samuel Backhouse, a lawyer from Melbourne and his brother, a Terang lawyer. The draft indenture papers were drawn up but, after some weeks of negotiations, Henry Parrington withdrew from the sale. He was then sued by Samuel Backhouse for breach of contract. The outcome of this case is not known but Parrington continued his practice in Warrnambool. Henry Roberts Parrington qualified as a lawyer in England in 1873 and worked as a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand from 1876 to 1886. He then came to Australia and worked for the legal firm of Messrs Higgins in Geelong and for Bayly and Higgins in Warrnambool. The business in Kepler Street, Warrnambool later became known as Higgins and Parrington and, in 1900, as Parrington and Tait (partner John Sym Tait). When John Tait retired in 1901 Henry Parrington was the sole proprietor of the practice. He died in 1926 in Melbourne. These documents have some significance as they relate to Henry Parrington’s legal career. He was a prominent lawyer in Warrnambool in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.This material is in three sections:- .1 Eleven pages of handwritten material on blue paper (draft indenture document). The last page is blank and the front section has the red stamp of the Melbourne firm of Backhouse and Mellor. The front page is stained and there is a hole punched through the document at the top left hand corner. .2 Twelve handwritten letters – correspondence between Henry Parrington and Samuel Backhouse. These are on white paper and are a little crumpled and stained. .3 Twelve typed letters (typed from the handwritten letters noted above). Several of the pages have corrections in black ink or pencil.henry parrington, samuel backhouse, history of warrnambool

These documents concern the 19th century proposed sale of the legal practice of Henry Parrington of Warrnambool to Samuel Backhouse of Collins Street, Melbourne. Samuel Backhouse came to Warrnambool to inspect the Parrington practice and offered £750 for the practice. The offer was accepted and the contract for the sale was drawn up. Henry Parrington then withdrew from the sale and was sued by Backhouse for breach of contract. Backhouse was wanting £150 compensation. The outcome of this case is not known. Henry Roberts Parrington qualified as a lawyer in England in 1873 and worked as a barrister and solicitor in New Zealand from 1876 to 1886. He then came to Australia and worked for the legal firm of Messrs Higgins in Geelong and for Bayly and Higgins in Warrnambool. The business in Kepler Street, Warrnambool later became known as Higgins and Parrington and, in 1900, as Parrington and Tait (partner John Sym Tait). When John Tait retired in 1901 Henry Parrington was the sole proprietor of the practice. He died in Melbourne in 1926. These documents are of considerable interest as they outline an episode in the life of Henry Parrington, a well-known lawyer in Warrnambool in the late 19th century and the early 20th century. These are eleven documents pertaining to the Warrnambool lawyer, Henry Parrington. There are four single-sheet letters – two have blue typing and two have handwritten material in black ink. There is one telegram with both printed and handwritten material and a Post Office stamp. There are two envelopes which have been sent by mail and which have mauve Victorian twopenny stamps. These envelopes are torn at the top. These envelopes contain letters which have printed material at the top of the sheets and handwritten material in black ink. samuel backhouse, henry parrington, history of warrnambool